Reversible sailing vessel



Feb. 21, 1967 e. WEATHERLY 3,304,899 REVERSIBLE SAILING VESSEL Filed Oct. 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTO "I foozwue'flsryia Feb. 21, 1967 G. WEATHERLY 3,304,899

REVERSIBLE SAILING VESSEL Filed Oct. 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l N VE/ty'O R foam/6' ammy BY United States Patent REVERSIBLE SAILING VESSEL Goodhue Weatherly, 77 Park Ave., Manhasset, N.Y. 10016 Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,437 9 Claims. (Cl. 114-39) This invention relates to sailing vessels, and more particularly to a sail boat having a hull which is capable of traveling in either direction along longitudinal axis of the hull.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a boat to operate under sail power with certain features to enable the same to carry a significantly large sail area for a given stability, hull size and configuration, whereby considerably greater speed may be achieved.

A very important object of the invention is to provide a sail boat having an outrigger or other balancing means which is always maintained to the windward side of the vessel to produce greater stability so that the same is less likely to capsize.

Another object is to provide a sail boat which need not change its heading in the manner of conventional sailing craft in order to reverse its direction of travel.

A further object is to provide a sail boat, the direction of movement of which can be reversed while maintaining the same side of the boat windward.

Still another object is to make possible the sailing of a canoe type hull by providing a sail, rudder and outrigger means which may be secured to the hull to convert the same into a sailing craft for a relatively small expense.

In accordance with various features of the invention, the hull of the boat is suitably shaped at opposite ends for easiest encounter with the water so that the boat may be sailed with either end going forward, and the rudder blade is made reversible so the boat may be steered either from the stern end or from the bow end as needed, the rudder remaining fixed to the boat at one end location.

Another feature in accordance with the invention is the provision of a sail which is capable of being reversed in a very quick and convenient manner.

All of the objects, features and advantages of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a sailing vessel made according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the sail boat shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a top view of the sail boat of FIGS. 1 and 2,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the sail 'boat seen in FIGS. 13,

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the sail and rudder reversed from that in FIG. 1, whereby the boat hull can travel in the opposite direction,

FIG. 6a illustrates the path of travel of the boat having the sail arranged as seen in FIGS. l-4, and

FIG. 6b illustrates the path of travel of the boat with the same wind as in FIG. 641 when the sail is reversed as seen in FIG. 5.

Briefly, in accordance with the invention, there is provided a sailing vessel which is capable of travelling in either direction along the axis of the hull, while presenting the same side of the boat to the wind. The vessel comprises a hull which is shaped at both ends so that either end may serve as the bow, whereby the same may travel easily in both directions. A sail is provided which desirably extends for the greater length of the hull and which is supported on a mast preferably located approximately midway of the hull length. The sail is further provided with a substantially rigid leading edge support which may be slidably mounted on its lower end for movement along a suitable track. In this manner the leading edge sail support can be quickly and easily moved along the track, whereby the sail leading edge may be shifted from one end of the hull to the other. An outrigger type mechanism is also provided and includes a balancing board or platform extending out from one side of the hull and which will always be to the windward side thereof. This latter mechanism also preferably includes a float, such as a pontoon, for support in the event the mechanism dips into the water. A keel is also provided, and is preferably associated with the outrigger mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings, .and especially to FIGS. 1-5, there is shown a sailboat according to the invention which includes a hull 10, a mast 12, and a sail 14. The hull is preferably pointed at both ends so that either end may function as the bow and may be provided with decks 15 and 15a at opposite ends. The mast 12 is located preferably at the longitudinal center position between the ends of the hull, is supported by suitable means at the bottom thereof, and is reinforced by stay wires 16. The top of the mast 12 is provided with a ring-like structure 18 secured thereto, with the plane of the ring substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mast.

The ring-like structure 18 receives the top end of a rigid leading edge solid sail support 20 in such a manner as to be loosely pivota ble therein. The sail is secured to the sail support 20 by any suitable fastening means such as the rings 22, for example, which pass through apertures provided therefor in the sail. The bottom of the sail support 20 is supported on a movable member 24 in a sail track 26, which extends generally from one end to the other of the hull 10 on the lee side 10b thereof. This sail track may take various forms, as will be known to those having general knowledge of nautical mechanisms. The movable member 24 on the track is adapted to move the lower end of the sail support 20 along the track to reverse the position of the sail, as will appear. This movable member 24 is actuated by pulling a rope loop 28 which passes through a plurality of eyes 30 on the windward side 10a of the hull 10. Any suitable securing means may be provided to maintain the movable member 24 at either end of the track 26, such as for example a rope and tie arrangement. If it is desired to employ merely an open end rope in lieu of the closed loop 28 for reversing the sail, such securing means may comprise merely cleats to which the rope may be tied.

The 'clew or rear-lower end of the sail is provided with a grommet eye 32 for receiving a snap hook 34. This hook is connected to a block and tackle arrangement 36 which is in turn connected to an arm 38, the tackle being secured to the arm by means of a shackle 40. An arm 38a similar to the arm 38 is provided at the opposite end of the hull 10, along with a second block and tackle arrangement 36a at that end. The block and tackle and the hook connected thereto, which is not in service at any particular time, is merely allowed to lie free or may be secured to a suitable tie means, as desired.

A balancing platform, preferably in the form of a board member 42, is provided and is rigidly held to the hull by means of two support members 44. This platform will always remain to the windward side 10a of the craft, as will appear. Beneath the board member 42 there is provided a float member, preferably in the form of a pontoon 46 to provide buoyancy in the event the board 42 dips into the Water.

Outside the hull 10, and between the support members 44, there is provided an off-center keel 48. This keel 48 is supported on a cross member 50 by, for example, a bolt-nut arrangement 52, so that the keel may be pivotable into a horizontal position to facilitate movement of the hull onto the beach without damage to the keel. With such an arrangement, the center of lateral resistance of the craft can also be adjusted as necessary. The keel 48 is set at an angle with respect to the mast 12, when in its normal position, so that the same will be substantially vertical at normal positions on the craft during sailing.

A rudder 54 is provided at one end of the hull 10. This rudder 54 is employed for steering the boat either from the bow or stem end, depending upon the direction of movement of the hull. In FIG. 1, the rudder 54 is shown in position for steering at the stern end, whereas in FIG. 5, it is shown in position for steering at the bow end of the boat. In order to facilitate proper use at both ends of the boat, depending upon the direction of movement of the hull, the top of the rudder shaft 56 is provided with a tiller 58, which may be reversed at 180 on its pivot 60. A tiller extension arm 62 is secured to the swingable end of the tiller 58 by means of a suitable bolt-unit arrangement 64.

As will be understood, the craft of this invention is designed so that the wind will always blow against the windward side 10a of the hull, which is adjacent the balancing platform 42. FIG. 6a illustrates the direction of movement of the craft when the wind impinges the windward side of the craft; the position of the sail 14 and the rudder 54 in FIG. 6a correspond to that shown in FIGS. l-4.

Unlike conventional sailboats, the craft of this invention may be sailed in the opposite direction to that shown in FIG. 6a by reversing the position of the sail and rudder from that shown in FIGS. 1-4, with the wind from the same direction. These reversed positions are shown in FIG. 5, and also in FIG. 6b, the latter figure illustrating the direction of movement of the craft under these conditions. As will be appreciated from the above description, the direction of movement of the craft for a given wind direction is accomplished in the following three simple steps:

(1) By reversing the sail 14 by pulling on the rope 28, thereby moving the sail support to the opposite end of the craft;

(2) By then disconnecting the snap hook 34 from the grommet eye 32 in the clew portion of the sail and connecting the snap hook 34a at the other end of the hull, and

(3) Then reversing the rudder 54 by reversal of the tiller and arm mechanism described above.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the sailing craft, which embodies the features of this invention, makes possible a sailing vessel for which the direction of travel can be reversed in a very simple and efficient manner merely by reversing the sail and rudder positions. By such reversal, the craft of this invention need not tack" as is usual procedure, i.e., it need not change the reading of the boat so that the 'wind blows across the other side of the craft than previously, to achieve a reversal direction. Instead this craft can change direction as desired while maintaining one certain side presented to the wind.

Also on this craft the captain or crew will remain perched out to windward on the fixed balance board, moving further out on the hiking area or closer in toward the sail, as the balancing need changes, and there is no need to scramble from one side to the other. Further, on this fixed balancing board the captain or crew can go much farther out, thus exerting greater leverage than by hanging out by the arms, legs or in trapeze style, as is usual on conventional sailboats. This enables the craft to employ a much larger area sail than can usually be safely accommodated. This latter feature enables this craft to travel at significantly greater speeds than were heretofore attainable by other boats having similar weight and stability characteristics.

While the foregoing description sets forth the principlesof the invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be understood that the description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation of the scope of the= invention as set forth in the objects thereof and in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A reversible sailing craft comprising a hull having its opposed ends shaped for easy encounter with the water so that a given end thereof may serve as the bow when the hull travels in a given direction and so that the opposite end thereof may serve as the bow when the hull travels in the opposite direction,

means for mounting a sail on said hull, said sail being maintained to one side of the longitudinal axis of said hull, said sail having a leading edge,

said sail further being mounted on sail reversing means,

said leading edge being located generally at said given end of said craft for travel in said given direction and being located generally at said opposite end of said craft for travel in said opposite direction, means for holding the rear end of said sail,

a rudder located at one end of said hull,

said rudder having a first position for travel of said craft in said given direction and a reversed second position for travel of said craft in said opposite direction,

balancing means extending outward of said hull on theside thereof opposite the side of the location of said sail,

and keel means located on the same side of said hull.

as said balancing means.

2. The invention described in claim 1 which further. includes a leading edge sail support,

said support being held on said sail reversing means,.

means for securing the leading edge of said sail to said sail support.

3. The invention described in claim 2 wherein said'. sail reversing means includes a sail track,

said sail support being movable on said track,

means connected to said sail support for quickly and conveniently advancing the same from one end of' said track to the other.

4. The invention disclosed in claim 1 wherein said'l sail mounting means includes a mast located generally in the region of the longitudinal center of said hull, said: sail support being pivotably held at its upper end to saidmast.

5. The invention described in claim 1 wherein said. sail is a leg of mutton type sail.

6. The invention described in claim 1 wherein said balancing means includes means for supporting a crewman at various positions thereon, and a float associated with said balancing means at the outer end thereof.

7. The invention described in claim 1 wherein said keel means comprises a member supported in the region: between said hull and said float,

said member being disposed at an angle with a vertical line through said hull.

8. The invention described in claim 7 wherein said keel member is pivotable about its upper end, whereby said member may be adjusted to vary the center of lateral resistance of said craft, and whereby said member may be rotated to a horizontal position to facilitate landing of said hull on the beach when going ashore.

9. A reversible sailing craft comprising a hull having generally pointed ends for easy encounter with the water so that a given end thereof may serve as the bow when the hull travels in a given direction and so that the opposite ends thereof may serve as the bow when the hull travels in the opposite direction,

a mast supported on said hull,

a sail track extending generally along the length of said hull,

a leading edge sail support,

said sail support being pivotally held at its upper end to said mast,

means for moving the lower end of said sail support along said track, whereby the leading edge of said sail may be reversed from one end of said track to the other,

said sail being maintained to one side of the longitudinal axis of said hull,

said leading edge being located generally at said given end of said craft for travel in said given direction and being located generally at said opposite end of said craft for travel in said opposite direction,

means for holding the rear end of said sail,

a rudder located at one end of said hull,

said rudder having a first position for travel of said craft in said given direction and a reversed second position for travel of said craft in said opposite direction,

balancing means extending outward of said hull on the Windward side thereof, said Windward side being opposite to the side of the location of said sail, said windward side further always being the same physical side of said hull,

and a keel located on the same side of said hull as said balancing means, said keel being disposed at an angle to said mast, whereby said keel occupies a substantially vertical position when said craft is sailing with said mast in the usual titlted sailing position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

T. M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A REVERSIBLE SAILING CRAFT COMPRISING A HULL HAVING ITS OPPOSED ENDS SHAPED FOR EASY ENCOUNTER WITH THE WATER SO THAT A GIVEN END THEREOF MAY SERVE AS THE BOW WHEN THE HULL TRAVELS IN A GIVEN DIRECTION AND SO THAT THE OPPOSITE END THEREOF MAY SERVE AS THE BOW WHEN THE HULL TRAVELS IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, MEANS FOR MOUNTING A SAIL ON SID HULL, SAID SAIL BEING MAINTAINED TO ONE SIDE OF THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID HULL, SAID SAIL HAVING A LEADING EDGE, SAID SAIL FURTHER BEING MOUNTED ON SAIL REVERSING MEANS, SAID LEADING EDGE BEING LOCATED GENERALLY AT SAID GIVEN END OF SAID CRAFT FOR TRAVEL IN SAID GIVEN DIRECTION AND BEING LOCATED GENERALLY AT SAID OPPOSITE END OF SAID CRAFT FOR TRAVEL IN SAID OPPOSITE DIRECTION, MEANS FOR HOLDING THE REAR END OF SAID SAIL, A RUDDER LOCATED AT ONE END OF SAID HULL, SAID RUDDER HAVING A FIRST POSITION FOR TRAVEL OF SAID CRAFT IN SAID GIVEN DIRECTION AND A REVERSED SECOND POSITION FOR TRAVEL OF SAID CRAFT IN SAID OPPOSITE DIRECTION, 